A Long-Awaited Inquiry into the Orgreave Clashes
A public inquiry is set to begin in the autumn, aiming to uncover the truth behind the violent clashes between police and striking miners at Orgreave. This long-awaited process has been promised as part of Labour’s election manifesto and is expected to address one of the most controversial episodes in the history of policing.
The events took place over 40 years ago during the Battle of Orgreave on 18 June 1984. At a coking plant in South Yorkshire, more than 120 people were injured during skirmishes between police and miners. In total, 95 picketers were arrested and initially charged with riot and violent disorder, but all charges were later dropped after evidence was discredited.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper acknowledged that the events at Orgreave had left a lasting impact on communities in Yorkshire and other mining areas. She stated that the violent scenes and subsequent prosecutions raised concerns that have remained unanswered for decades. “We must now establish what happened,” she added.
The inquiry will be chaired by the Rt Rev Dr Pete Wilcox, the Bishop of Sheffield. It will have the power to compel individuals to provide evidence, ensuring a thorough examination of the events. The decision to launch the inquiry follows years of campaigning from the Orgreave Truth & Justice Campaign (OTJC), which expressed relief at the news, stating, “We have waited a long time for this day.”
Campaigners are determined to find out who was responsible for orchestrating the deployment of multiple police forces, including mounted police armed with truncheons, shields, and dogs, against striking miners. They also want to understand why certain evidence was destroyed or embargoed until 2066 and 2071. Recent revelations showed that Northumbria Police had destroyed two boxes of documents related to the strike in April of last year.
OTJC secretary, Kate Flannery, emphasized the need for the inquiry to have the necessary powers to investigate all aspects of the orchestrated policing at Orgreave. She called for unrestricted access to all relevant information, including government, police, and media documents, photos, and films.
The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) general secretary, Chris Kitchen, welcomed the inquiry, highlighting its importance in rebuilding trust between the police and mining communities. He noted that the events at Orgreave and throughout the strike had damaged this trust, even 41 years later.
Kevin Horne, a miner arrested at Orgreave, stressed the urgency of the inquiry. He pointed out that many of the miners involved are now deceased or elderly and ill. “We need a quick and thorough inquiry with a tight timescale so that surviving miners can at last obtain the truth and justice they have been waiting for,” he said.
South Yorkshire’s mayor, Oliver Coppard, described the events at Orgreave as one of the most controversial in policing history. He highlighted the impact of the violent clashes, the arrest of 95 miners, and the collapse of the trial due to revelations about police conduct. “It’s a step towards setting the historical record straight, ensuring lessons are learned, and restoring public trust,” he added.
The Home Office has begun formal consultation between the home secretary and the Rt Rev Wilcox on the inquiry’s terms of reference. The Rt Rev Wilcox, working with the government to identify experts for an independent panel, acknowledged the weight of expectation and the significance of the task. He expressed hope that the inquiry would be thorough, fair, and swift in uncovering what happened at Orgreave.
